Regatta Kids Samaris III Walking Boots Review: solid waterproof boots for rough-and-tumble kids

I’ve had these Regatta Kids Samaris III walking boots (size 2 UK, grey) on my kid’s feet for about three weeks now. We’ve used them for the usual mix: school runs in the rain, muddy park trips, a couple of short hikes of 5–7 km, and general messing around in puddles. So this isn’t a lab test, it’s just what they’re like in normal family chaos.

The first thing I was looking for was pretty simple: keep feet dry, don’t fall apart, and don’t cause blisters. My kid is not gentle with shoes, and cheaper trainers usually look wrecked after a month. With these, I wanted something that could do double duty: weekday shoe when it’s wet, and proper boot for weekend walks.

From a parent point of view, I care more about waterproofing, comfort and durability than fancy design. My kid cares more about “are they comfy” and “do they look too much like ‘hiking shoes’ for school”. So we had to find a middle ground. These Regatta boots sit kind of in that middle: clearly outdoor shoes, but not so bulky or weird-looking that they can’t be worn day to day.

Overall, after a few weeks, I’d say they’re pretty solid and practical. Not perfect, and there are a couple of things that annoyed me (mainly around weight and laces), but for the price bracket they sit in, they get the main jobs done: dry feet, decent grip, and they haven’t fallen apart yet despite some real abuse.

In terms of value, these Regatta Samaris III boots sit in that middle zone: not bargain-cheap, not premium. For what you get – real waterproofing, proper cushioning, and decent build quality – the price feels fair. If you compare them to really cheap supermarket or no-name boots, you’re paying more, but you’re getting better comfort and much better waterproof performance. Compared to big-name outdoor brands, they’re usually cheaper while still doing the basic job well.

For me, the main question is: do they justify the spend compared to just buying another pair of trainers? If your kid mostly stays indoors or goes from car to school and back, probably not. But if they’re outside a lot, walk to school, do forest school, or you like weekend walks, then yes, they make sense. You’re paying for dry feet, fewer complaints, and shoes that don’t fall apart in two months. On that basis, I’d say the value is good.

There are a couple of small negatives that stop them feeling like a total steal: the weight is slightly on the high side for kids, and breathability isn’t great for warm days. Also, the lace-only design might annoy some parents who prefer quick fastenings. But these are trade-offs, not deal-breakers. The Amazon rating (around 4.8/5 from other buyers) lines up with my experience: people seem happy because the basics are handled well.

If you catch them on offer, I’d say they’re very decent value. At full price, they’re still reasonable, especially if your child will use them regularly in wet and muddy conditions. If you just want a pair for the odd weekend trip, you might get away with something cheaper, but for regular use, these feel like a sensible, not wasteful, purchase.

Design-wise, Regatta went for a pretty straightforward hiking-boot look. Grey synthetic upper, black sole, mid-height collar. No wild colours, which I personally like because they’re easy to match with jeans, joggers, or school trousers. My kid initially called them “adventure shoes”, which I’ll take as a good sign – they didn’t get the usual “these look weird” complaint that some bulkier boots get.

The shape is fairly round at the toe, so there’s space for toes to move. That’s important if your kid has slightly wider feet. These don’t feel super narrow like some fashion trainers. The collar is nicely padded and the tongue is thick enough to stop laces digging in. One thing I noticed though: they’re not the lightest boots. Not bricks, but heavier than a normal trainer. On the first couple of days, my kid did mention they “feel heavier than my school shoes”, but after a week they stopped mentioning it.

The lacing system is basic: standard eyelets all the way up, no quick hooks. That means it takes a bit longer to lace up properly, especially for small hands. If your kid is still learning laces, expect to help out at the door for a while. Personally, I’d have liked at least the top two eyelets to be hooks to speed things up. On the positive side, once laced properly, the foot feels well locked in, and there’s not much heel slippage.

In terms of looks, these are more “practical outdoorsy” than stylish. If your kid is very picky about fashion, they might say they look a bit like “proper hiking boots” rather than casual shoes. Mine is fairly neutral about shoes and was fine with them. For everyday parents: if you want a boot that can do school, walks and playground without looking too out of place, the design is decent. Nothing exciting, but sensible and not cheap-looking.

Comfort was my biggest concern because kids complain fast if something rubs. Out of the box, the boots felt reasonably comfy but a bit stiff. The first day, we did just the school run and a park stop (about 45 minutes total walking). No blisters, but my kid did say they felt “a bit hard around the ankle” by the end of the day. That’s pretty normal for new boots with ankle support. After about three days of normal use, that stiffness eased off.

The TECFOAM insole and EVA midsole do their job. My kid described them as “bouncy”. When I pressed the insole with my thumb, it had a decent amount of give and spring back. On a 6–7 km family walk with mixed paths (tarmac, gravel, forest trail), my kid didn’t complain once about sore feet, which is honestly the main test for me. They were still running around at the end, so cushioning and general comfort get a thumbs up.

The ankle collar is well padded and sits at a good height. It hugs the ankle without digging into the Achilles. I checked for red marks after the first long walk and there were none. The heel feels locked in, with minimal up-and-down movement when walking, so less risk of rubbing. That said, because the boots are a bit on the heavy side compared to trainers, smaller or very lightweight kids might notice the weight at first. Mine did say “they feel heavier than my trainers” on day one, but stopped mentioning it after a few outings.

One thing to watch is socks. With these, I’d avoid super thin socks. We used normal cotton crew socks and that seemed ideal. Thin socks might slide around more and increase rubbing. Overall, comfort is solid once they’re broken in over a few days: not like wearing slippers, but perfectly fine for day-to-day use and weekend walks without complaints.

The boots are made almost entirely from synthetic materials: synthetic upper, EVA sole, foam insole and inner. No leather here. That has pros and cons. On the plus side, the synthetic upper feels tough and doesn’t soak up water like suede or fabric. After a few sessions of mud and puddles, I literally just wiped them with a damp cloth and they looked decent again. The “anti-abrasion mesh” bits on the upper seem to handle scuffs pretty well – no tearing or peeling so far.

The toe and heel both have extra technical synthetic protection, basically a harder overlay. This is good if your kid likes kicking stones, bike pedals, or random walls. On my pair, the toe cap has a few visible scratches now, but nothing has cut through. The sole is EVA, which gives a good mix of cushioning and low weight, but EVA does compress over time. After three weeks I haven’t seen any obvious flattening, but I wouldn’t expect these to last for multiple kids in a row like some heavy leather boots might.

Inside, the TECFOAM insole is actually nicer than I expected at this price. It’s soft but not squishy, and it hasn’t folded or slipped out of place even when my kid yanked their foot out without unlacing properly (standard kid behaviour). The inner lining is also synthetic, smooth enough that socks don’t snag. No loose stitching or weird hard seams inside the heel, which is usually where blisters start.

On the downside, because everything is synthetic, breathability is just average. On a warmer day (around 18–20°C), after a long walk, my kid’s socks were a bit damp from sweat. Not soaked, but you can tell these are more suited for cooler, wet conditions than hot summer days. For spring, autumn, and mild winter, the material choice makes sense. For mid-summer, I’d switch to lighter shoes.

Durability is always a bit tricky to judge after only a few weeks, but with kids you usually see weak points fast. So far, these Samaris III boots are holding up better than most cheap kids’ trainers we’ve had. The synthetic upper hasn’t cracked or peeled, and the stitching is still tight everywhere, including around the toe cap and heel, which are usually the first to go.

My kid is not careful with shoes at all – they drag their feet on a scooter, scrape toes on the ground, and kick pretty much anything in front of them. The reinforced toe has plenty of scuff marks now, but it’s just cosmetic. No holes, no layers coming apart. The sole is still firmly attached all the way around, no signs of separation even after a few really wet, muddy sessions and then drying by the door (not on a radiator, to be fair).

The EVA sole shows some very light wear on the heel, but that’s expected after a few weeks of daily use. Nothing concerning yet. The inner lining and insole haven’t flattened or twisted, and there are no loose threads inside. The laces are standard, nothing fancy, but they haven’t frayed or snapped yet. If anything is going to go first, I’d bet on the laces before the actual boot.

Realistically, I’d expect these to comfortably last at least one full season of regular use – possibly until your kid outgrows them, which is usually the limiting factor anyway. I wouldn’t buy them thinking they’ll be passed down through three kids, but for one active child using them several times a week in mixed conditions, they feel sturdy enough. For the price range they sit in, durability seems decent and in line with what I’d hope for from a brand like Regatta.

Out of the box, the Regatta Kids Samaris III look like straightforward mid-cut hiking boots, just shrunk down for kids. The colour I had was grey with some small accent details – nothing flashy, which I liked because it means they work with school uniform and casual clothes. They’re labelled as ankle-high, and that’s accurate: the collar comes just above the ankle bone on my kid, so there’s some support without being too restrictive.

The boot uses a synthetic upper that’s described as water resistant and backed by Regatta’s Isotex waterproof tech. The sole is EVA (Ethylene Vinyl Acetate), which is a common lightweight foam used in a lot of trainers and walking shoes. Inside, there’s a TECFOAM insole, basically a cushioned foam footbed that’s a bit thicker and bouncier than what you get in cheap school shoes. There’s also a moulded foam collar around the ankle that feels reasonably padded when you squeeze it.

On the practical info side: they’re lace-up only, no side zip or velcro. That’s good for proper fit but less handy if your kid still struggles with laces. The boots are sold as waterproof, not just water resistant, which is a key point if your kid lives in puddles like mine. The pair I had was made in China, item model number RKF834, and they feel like typical mid-range outdoor brand quality – not luxury, but not bargain-basement either.

First impression overall: they look like real hiking boots, not toy versions. They’re a bit chunkier than everyday trainers but not as big and clumsy as some heavy leather boots. If you’re used to brands like Decathlon/Quechua for kids, these sit in a similar zone, maybe slightly more structured around the ankle.

This is where these boots do well. Regatta sells them as waterproof, not just water resistant, and in real life that’s basically what I saw. My kid stomped through puddles, wet grass, and some pretty sloppy mud. As long as the water stayed below the top of the boot, feet stayed dry. I checked socks after each wet outing, and they were dry every time. No damp toes, no slow seepage from the front like you get with cheap “waterproof” trainers.

We also had one proper rainy day school run, about 20 minutes each way in steady rain with big puddles at the kerb. Again, no leaks. So for normal UK-style wet days, I’d trust these. Obviously, if your kid stands in water that goes over the ankle, water will get in from the top – that’s just how ankle boots work. But for rain, wet grass, and shallow puddles, they handle it well. After getting soaked outside, the outer material wiped down easily and didn’t stay soggy for long.

On grip and stability, the EVA sole has a decent tread pattern. It’s not as aggressive as serious mountain boots, but for kids’ use it’s fine. On wet pavement and park paths, my kid didn’t slip once. On a muddy forest trail, they still had traction, though in very thick mud they will clog up like most soles. The protective toe and heel add a bit of structure, which helps when they’re scrambling over logs or kicking around stones. Ankle support is better than trainers but not rigid – it’s enough to feel more secure on uneven ground.

Overall, in actual outdoor use, these boots do what they’re supposed to: keep feet dry, provide decent grip, and protect from bumps. If your main use is rainy school runs and weekend walks in the woods, they’re more than capable. If you’re planning serious mountain hikes with steep, rocky terrain, you might want something with a slightly stiffer sole, but for normal family outings these are absolutely fine.